Precision Agriculture | An HDN Solution for Haiti’s Agriculture Renaissance
Collectively, among the main approaches being taken by HDN is one of precision agriculture for a Haiti agriculture renaissance. We at HDN are currently involved in the development and application of soil health rehabilitation measures such as cover cropping, reduced tillage, improved soil nutrient management and other soil health rehabilitation work to rebuild organic matter and restore Haitian soil function with partners in Haiti. These fit within precision agriculture principles. A precision agriculture approach in Haiti is appropriate given estimates are that at least 20% of the land across the country is degraded, with over 50% of Haitian territory susceptible to erosion. One estimate has annual soil loss in Haiti being an approximate of 36 million tons. End results are a decline in crop yields, damage to watersheds along with a series of connected environmental systems.
Haiti’s Agriculture Renaissance Is Possible
Haiti has a remarkable potential for an agriculture renaissance. Haiti, roughly the size of the U.S. state of Maryland, has a diverse soil ecosystem. Across Haitian territory is a mix of volcanic, sandy, iron red, limestone and silt rich soils. Properly managed, this mosaic ecosystem can return to providing bountiful yields. Post-colonial period, the golden era of Haiti’s agriculture was from the late 19th century to mid 20th century. One example of this is coffee. Coffee is grown along Haiti’s numerous mountains and was once a major cash crop for the country. Haiti was among the top 5 global leaders for coffee production during the early to mid 20th century. Up until the mid-1980s, Haiti was self-sufficient in agriculture.
Today, Haiti’s documented top ten agricultural products, based on tonnage, includes avocados, bananas, cassava, maize, mangoes/guavas, plantains, rice, sugarcane, tropical fruits, vegetables. Formal efforts to revive Haitian agriculture include Haitian government efforts, with assistance from international partners, to increase staple food production such as rice. It is an ongoing work in progress with more needing to be done in order for the renaissance to happen and be sustainable.
“We have land, we have farmers,” she said. “What we need is help to grow more and do mass production.” – Local agriculture produce vendor in Haiti’s NorthEast
Rebuilding Haiti’s Agriculture: Lessons for the World
Today, 5.7 million people in Haiti face acute food hunger, with the total population of the country being approximately 12 million people. Ongoing efforts to address the crisis include increasing the purchase of locally produced food for school meals, improvements and construction of physical agriculture infrastructure such as canals, and assistance in managing livestock among other measures. An ongoing request from Haitian farmers is stopping soil degradation and depletion. Indeed soil degradation is not just a Haiti problem. An estimated 33% of global soils are moderately to severely degraded. Soils are responsible for producing 95% of the world’s food and 1.7 billion people reside in areas where crop yields are declining due to human induced land degradation. The stress on global soils will only increase greatly given the global human population is expected to grow from 8 billion people today to 10 billion people by 2080. The Green Revolution success of mass use of synthetic fertilizers to feed a growing human population will be severely inadequate. Additionally, it is increasingly recognized that the nutritional quality of soil grown foods continue to significantly decline due the effects of degrading soils.
Haitian Development Network Foundation (HDN) Leadership for Haiti’s Agricultural Renaissance
The Haitian Development Network Foundation has a successful history of supporting agriculture development efforts in Haiti. HDN support has included investments in chicken breeding and farming, community gardens development across the country, eco-citizenship education initiatives and methanized biogas production. One example of an HDN local partner working to facilitate the renaissance in Haiti is SOHARDEK. SOHARDEK has worked with HDN on a methanized biogas production project.
SOHARDEK is an internationally recognized community based farmers organization with roughly 7,500 members focused on sustainable agriculture development. SOHARDEK has successfully worked with organizations such as the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM). Among the crops grown by SOHARDEK are broccoli, peppers, strawberries, tomatoes and more.
Our work with partners agrees with UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. This contributes to ending all forms of malnutrition, including internationally agreed targets on stunting and wasting in children under 5 years of age by 2025, and addressing the nutritional needs of adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women, and older persons.
Partner With Us | Let’s Change Haiti and Make the World a Better Place
We are knocking on the door for a Haiti agriculture renaissance. The tools and methods exist and the Haitian Development Network Foundation and our partners are working to do this right now.
If it can happen in Haiti it can happen anywhere.
Partner with us in fulfilling this reality. Let’s change the world together for good!